November 1, 2008
From seed to store, protecting agricultural products with fabric. By Jamie Swedberg The same elements that make farming possible—the sun, the rain, the wind, the web of life—also make it a challenge. For every gentle rain, there is a pelting hailstorm. For every beneficial microorganism, there is a voracious bird that devours the last berry. …
Problem: Upholsterers want to diversify their businesses and have multi-tasking vinyl options. Solution: The new Softside II Collection covers the vinyl market, offering patterns with 100,000 plus double-rub abrasion resistance for contract jobs, as well as colors and embossing that mimic vinyl used by automotive original equipment manufacturers. SOURCE J. Ennis Fabrics
After extensive testing, Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) has determined that NanoHorizons’ SmartSilver™ antimicrobial protection permanently guards wool fabrics against microbes that cause odor. NanoHorizons Inc., State College, Pa., created nanotechnology that allows silver, which has antimicrobial properties, to bond permanently to fibers so the protection doesn’t wash or wear out. The treatment doesn’t compromise other …
Grand format is bigger, better, spectacular and versatile. By Maura Keller Architects, trade show organizers,event planners, and retail operators have one thing in common: they strive to capture the attention of their potential audience through powerful visual messages. Using wide and grand format elements can inform, delight and inspire their audience like never before. Making …
Falcon, a supplier of signage materials located in Johannesburg, South Africa, attracted attention at Sign Africa 2008 with a variety of signage displays. Falcon is now 3P InkJet Textiles’ sales partner in South Africa. More than 80 square meters of textile prints were used; 95 percent of all stand prints were 3P fabrics, including TruColor …
I’ve heard that the U.S. government is giving incentives to businesses for insulating their buildings. Where can I get more information? Compiled by Juli Case We contacted the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and were informed that there are tax incentives for U.S. business owners who make their operations more energy efficient. We were directed …
Problem: Incomplete hot air welds split, damaging tents and awnings. Solution: The seven-pound JTE Ultrasonic Hand Held Welder welds any thermoplastic, including PE and PP, and uses only single-phase 110-volt power and no air. The generator is less than six pounds. Its light weight and ease of handling allows for tent and awning repair on …
Lyocell, a solution of plant-based cellulose that can be processed into a nonwoven fabric, is the foundation of a new collaboration between Lenzing Group AG, Lenzing, Austria, and Weyerhaeuser Co., Federal Way, Wash., one of the world’s largest forest products companies. A memorandum of understanding between the two global companies was signed in July, with …
Inventory management is central to success. By Janet Preus For any size shop, keeping track and maintaining control of supplies is a balancing act that requires careful attention. We asked two companies with similar product lines to respond to a few basic questions about this business fundamental. KSK Color Lab Inc. is headquartered in Cleveland, …
Las Vegas, Nev.-based abetterink.com has changed its name to Color Zoo. Originally founded by Daryl Schelin in 1991 as a large-format graphics printer and innovator, Color Zoo is now a national dealer for Mimaki printers and is an authorized Epson Pro Focus Dealer for Epson’s Stylus® Pro line of printers, including the new Epson GS6000 …
Compiled by Juli Case We’re making a product that goes inside a factory and will be exposed to temperatures of 400 F. We’ve got the fabric; any suggestions for an FR thread that we can use? FR usually stands for flame retardant, but that may not be what you need here. Sometimes a material will …
Sam Armijos creates connections with clients—in person, in cyberspace and in the pages of a book. By Sigrid Tornquist “There is no alternative to meeting face-to-face. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter whether I showed potential clients something I designed or not. It is whether they feel they can work with me,” …
Suzhou Deylon Textiles Co. Ltd., Wujiang City, China, one of 16 subsidiaries of the Saudi Arabia-based Ajlan & Bros., received Asia’s first Oeko-Tex® Standard 1000 certification for environmentally sound production conditions at the plant. The company, with more than 2,100 employees, manufactures traditional headwear (yashmagh and ghuttra) for Arab customers. Among those plant conditions that …
Make the right choice with up-to-date information about inkjet printers for textiles. By Nicholas M. Hellmuth The basics There is more than one way to print wide and grand format applications. Understanding the differences is the first step in a decision to “go grand.” Wide-format printer hardware may be classified by how the material is …
Safety Components, Greenville, S.C., producer of tent and awning materials, announces that WeatherMaxTM FR has met the fire retardant specifications of California State Fire Marshall Title 19. Made of SaturaMax yarns, WeatherMax FR is a flame resistant fabric for outdoor applications where fade resistance is critical. It is guaranteed to retain its color for at …
Compiled by Juli Case My client wants to know if the fabric I’ve proposed for their project is extrusion coated. What’s that and how do I find out? Coating is the process of adding a semi-liquid to a fabric base; there are several different methods used. Extrusion coating is a technique in which resin pellets …
[ SPELCO GbR ] Munich, Germany It looks straight out of a comic book, but the serious purpose of the Gryphon parachute system is to bring soldiers quickly and precisely to a landing zone without detection or exposure of the transport aircraft. With a 6-foot wingspan, the prototype carbon-fiber stealth glider weighs 30 pounds and …
Members of the Sustainable Furniture Council decided that too many fabric samples ended up in landfills, and initiated the Sample Waste Initiative for Furniture and Textiles (SWIFT) to begin a conversation about how to re-use the waste. Avangard Innovative, Houston, Texas, spearheaded the Green Initiative for Furniture and Textiles (GIFFT) to provide samples, excess end …
By Lynn Krinsky and Patti Williams Green is one of the hottest topics today, not only in regard to digital printing of textiles, but also in the traditional screen printing of textiles as well as in the digital printing community. Currently there are no absolute standards or definitions about what is “Green” or sustainable. These …
In a move to underline both companies’ commitment to more sustainability in the textile industry, Genencor, a division of Danisco A/S, headquartered in Denmark; and Huntsman Textile Effects, Basel, Switzerland, have signed an agreement to jointly develop sustainable textile processing solutions. Huntsman Textile Effects is a leading supplier of dyes, chemicals, and innovative solutions for …
The marine fabric market segment needs an overall U.S. economic rebound, but small growth in 2009 is possible. By Jeff Rasmussen This summary of the U.S./Canadian marine fabric market segment focuses mostly on the U.S. marketplace, particularly as it relates to the state of the marine fabric market over the past few years: trends, top …
[ AR Tech Engineered Fabric Products ] Fontana, Calif., U.S.A. The mitigation bag is a highly specialized cover used by the U.S Air Force for the Delta IV program. Its purpose is to protect the nose cone from weather damage as well as humidity. This cover is complex and unique because it uses AN-108, which …
As many textile and performance chemical companies move production to China, the demand for technical expertise is certain to rise. OMNOVA Solutions Inc., Akron, Ohio, operates two business units in China, producing polyurethane and vinyl-coated fabrics. In September, the company’s foundation announced a $5,000 grant to the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Education Development Foundation to …
Tri Vantage now offers digital printers eight new graphic media fabrics for use in creating one-way, see-through signage. Tri Vantage Window Graphics Media fabrics provide customers with eye-catching advertising space and sun control options on vehicles, doors, windows, buildings,and in trade show decorations. These fabrics all carry the panoRama name. SOURCE Tri Vantage
FESPA has launched The Wide Network, an online networking community site for wide-format digital print professionals. The network provides users with a number of features, such as a digital events calendar, industry contacts, photos and videos, and communication mediums to aid peer networking and interaction. Each member on the network has his or her own …
Applied directly to the substrate in a matter of seconds, Barta transfer labels have a wide range of industrial applications, including inflatable rafts and boats. As a cost-effective and efficient solution for branding and safety instructions, they can be applied to either a flat or rounded surface, for flexibility in the application process. Once applied, …
[ Ehmke Manufacturing Co. Inc. ] Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.A. Thermal acoustical blankets designed, fabricated and installed by Ehmke Manufacturing are used in the Boeing Ch-47 Chinook, H-47 Combat Search and Rescue, HMX-1 CH-46 Presidential Chase Helicopter and V-22 Osprey Tiltrotor aircraft. The primary functions of these blankets are to protect war fighters against harsh environmental …
Agion® Technologies, Wakefield, Mass., manufacturer of silver-based antimicrobial solutions, is the first antimicrobial technology with Cradle to CradleSM Certification. The environmental certification, developed by McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) to promote eco-effective production, involves rigorous review of both the product and company. Products certified as Cradle to Cradle use environmentally safe and healthy materials, can …
Gandinnovations, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, has released new RIP software. GandiSoft, a program developed with ErgoSoft, is designed to meet the requirements of all Jeti printers and the production of large format graphics. ErgoSoft combines the best features of its two top-selling software products into one program. Gandinnovations also announces three new printers. The NanoJet UV …
Rainier Industries, Tukwila, Wash., has relocated to a new state-of-the-art facility. The 140,000-square-foot space houses Rainier’s corporate offices, product showrooms and wood, fabric, window, graphic, and sign shops. By the end of the year a yurt village will be constructed so guests can tour the company’s shelter products including its new Rainier Cottage. The new …
Two new fabrics from Recasens U.S.A. highlight design flexibility, aesthetics and environmental appeal: Solrec® mesh permits greater air flow and UV protection for use in awnings and window shades. It comes 118 inches wide in 32-yard lengths to minimize waste and reduce seaming. Nine colors are currently available. RecScreen® PVC/polyester shade screen fabric filters UV …
Every picture tells a story, and a series of transparent 10 by 13-foot photographs installed in the windows of a Minneapolis, Minn., skyway (enclosed pedestrian bridge) tell stories of homes left behind and new lives claimed. “Speaking of Home,” a temporary art installation by Nancy Ann Coyne, transforms the glass-and-steel skyway over a major downtown …
An Australian-born product line of sustainable, self-retractable shade products made its debut at a new facility in Carlsbad, Calif., in August with an Aussie-style grand opening barbecue. SeaShell Awnings USA™ hopes to create 300 jobs by 2010 making the energy efficient awnings. The products shade outdoor living areas from intense California sun, reducing heat costs, …
AW Specialty Papers, Elk Grove Village, Ill., recently introduced a complete line of new heat transfer papers. The new line includes AW Jet-Pro SofStretch for images transferred to light-colored substrates using inkjet printers; AW Jet-Opaque for images transferred to dark-colored substrates using inkjet printers; AW Photo-Trans ImageClip for color laser printers, which can be used …
Neschen Americas, Elkridge, Md., manufacturer and marketer of SEAL® and Neschen® brand products, welcomes Corey Milligan to the company’s sales team as the new Print Media Specialist. Milligan will provide applications expertise to the marketplace through educational programs and training seminars, as well as functioning as liaison with printer and ink manufacturers. See www.neschenamericas.com.
Featuring premium cast vinyl and cast overlaminate film, the new Roland Restyling Solution media supports the manufacturer’s entire line of eco-solvent and solvent inkjets. The cast vinyl prints beautifully and features Avery Dennison Easy Apply RS™ adhesive technology, an advanced repositionable adhesive that simplies installation on even the toughest and most intricate curves, contours and …
The next advance in green power may be a goofy-looking glob of floating helium carrying wind turbines that generate electricity and can go anywhere. The Magenn Air Rotor System (MARS), a collaboration of Magenn Power Inc., Kanata, Ottawa, Canada, and engineered textiles provider Atkins & Pearce Inc., Covington, Ky., is lighter than air, rotates around …
Leading auto manufacturers such as BMW and Volkswagen are in discussion with Stanley Lifestyle Ltd., Chennai, India, to ramp up its production of upholstery-grade leather, following General Motors and Ford into the Indian leather market. Stanley entered into a joint venture with an Italian firm to start a tannery in Ranipet, India’s leather hub, to …
Graphics One, Burbank, Calif., has launched its new GO RIO 64 printer, a high-performance digital dye sublimation transfer printer that can produce high quality prints on transfer paper that can then be sublimated to different types of fabrics and rigid substrate applications. Following on the successful launch of the GO RIO 42-inch dye sublimation printer, …
Orbus Inc., Bolingbrook, Ill., a manufacturer and wholesale distributor of trade show, exhibit and display products, announces the expansion of its in-house graphics department with the purchase of a Jet-i 3324 Aquajet grand format printer from Gandinnovations of Toronto, Canada. The Jet-i 3324 Aquajet was recently voted “Best Textile Printer of the Year” by the …
New collections from J.Ennis Fabrics Novelties Exotic Hides are faux hides with an authentic look and feel in four colors: Holstein, Ayrshire, Hereford and Angus. Tough and fire-resistant, they can be used in home and hospitality settings for a unique look in upholstery, especially when paired with complementary Ultraleather™. Both products use environmentally friendly PU …
Trees decrease energy bills, sequester carbon and add beauty to urban landscapes. What’s not to like? Unfortunately, the roots of urban trees confined to small areas can spread, damaging sidewalks, pipes and infrastructure, adding to maintenance costs and liability. Biobarrier® Root Control System, manufactured by Fiberweb Inc., Old Hickory, Tenn., may allow landscapers to green …
On December 31, the U.S. will scrap quotas on textiles, and as that deadline approaches, U.S. Customs is talking tough with the Chinese. Customs charges that China illegally declared that 1,000 containers of goods originated in other countries, when they came from China and exceeded that nation’s import quota for 2008. The U.S. could charge …
Moss Inc., Chicago, Ill., has launched a new product line. Moss Groove is a fabric framing system that uses a smooth surface aluminum extrusion system to showcase fabric graphics with minimal emphasis on the frame itself. Constructed with strong and lightweight anodized aluminum, the system features the unique Solid Lock mitered corner connection that fastens …
In a recent Fabric Graphics article on welding, Miller Weldmaster was identified as a supplier of welding tapes. Other suppliers include Sinclair Equipment, D.J. Associates Inc., and Snyder Manufacturing. See www.sineqco.com, www.dj-associates.com, www.snyderman.com.
Greater accuracy, speed and flexibility are the driving forces behind the new Gerber DCS3600/3600L, the latest advancement in single-ply conveyorized cutting technology. System has a small footprint and simple-to-use graphical user interface, easily integrating into any cutting room environment in the transportation, aerospace, marine, apparel and furniture industries. Unit provides a longer cut window, an …
Falls account for 70 percent of accidental deaths among people 75 years or older, according to the White House Medical Clinic in Washington, D.C. With this and other elder injury statistics in mind, Prop Corp., Tokyo, Japan, developed a wearable airbag, first unveiled at the International Home Care and Rehabilitation Exhibition in Tokyo in September. …
Pakistan’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) provided relief for its struggling textile sector with a package allowing a 7.5 percent duty drawback on total imports of PTA used in making polyester fabric. The ECC also is considering a comprehensive package for the Gwadar Export Processing Zone (GEPZ), including a 10-year tax holiday, incentives to investors establishing …
Gerber Scientific Products, South Windsor, Conn., introduces the Solara ion™, a true flatbed and roll-to-roll wide-format UV inkjet printer. The printer produces flexible, three-year outdoor-durable graphics that are instantly usable. Its advanced GerberCAT™ cationic inks and low temperature patent-pending Cold Fire Cure™ technology make it compatible with a wide range of materials, including those sensitive …
Junkers & Müllers has had all of its Mediatex® textiles tested in line with the Oeco-Tex Standard 100 and has received the label “Textile Trust,” a label that signifies responsible textile manufacturing from raw materials, to the finished product. For users it means they are getting trustworthy product descriptions, and the consumer can purchase ecologically …